There’s some buzz about on a few websites concerning Sky’s new DTT product – Picnic. It is claimed that Sky employees are now testing the pay-TV Freeview add-on in their homes. It got me thinking:
Which UK media product or service has had the slowest release because of regulation?
– Sky Picnic. Well Sky [...]
[this post was secretly written by Prince Harry]
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) just released a report that questions ‘free market’ policies with respect to the auction of UHF television spectrum made available by digital switchover.
Here’s the money quote:
‘Given the high demand for HD broadcasting, an appropriate amount of UHF spectrum will be needed in order [...]
Ed Richards yesterday gave a speech to the EU Parliament on the EU telecoms framework. His comments on functional separation include:
‘Whilst functional separation has proven successful in the UK, we have never argued that it is necessarily appropriate for other markets. Clearly, many Member States may find that Functional Separation is not a suitable [...]
Ofcom yesterday released interim data on its HFSS (junk food) advertising regulations. It’s data Ofcom have been sitting on for several months but had previously only released to industry insiders. That’s unfortunate — it took quite a bit of pressure for Ofcom to release this to the people who matter — the public. [...]
Folks, some interesting stuff about lately. Sadly, I will be in Miami Beach starting next week so I will have to miss these:
26 Feb 2008 — Event: Lecture at the LSE (6:30-8pm) – Is Brussels Against New Media? Details here.
1 Mar 2008 — Deadline to submit abstracts for the LSE’s Sept 2008 Media, Communication and Humanity conference. [...]
From Ofcom’s most recent broadcast bulletin:
What is the level of prominence usually given to a basic kitchen utensil?
Ofcom today announced a mobile sector assessment. Check it out here.
Maybe it’s the nature of this website — I usually rag on Ofcom too much, but I think today’s announcement is welcome news for a number of reasons:
– It’s called an assessment, not the Future of Mobile. ‘Future of’ consultations always sound too [...]
Our friends at ViB Events have scheduled an in-depth review of functional separation. Alex Blowers — one of Ofcom’s best — will represent the regulator. Click here to register.
Yesterday I suggested that Ofcom were back-sliding on transparency — refusing to share with its stakeholder community what it told the Byron Review. And I mentioned that — if you want a laugh — look at how out-of-date Ofcom’s website is with respect to engagement with Parliament (it looks like the last update was [...]
Folks, one thing is for sure — regulators and policy makers / shapers sometimes get so caught up in their substantive mission they forget they work to serve the public. Some more than others. But let’s take a quick look at three:
1. The Byron Review. Dr. Tanya Byron, from what people [...]
(thanks to our guest artist: Ben Walker at One)
Slow news week, folks…
This one demonstrates the Beeb’s unsurpassed commitment to investigative journalism:
And here’s one you may have missed — sheer genius:
I kind of miss watching policy-making unfold at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Someone is always angry! (In the UK, I think I am the only angry one … with the exception of Ryanair’s Peter Sherrard). Unlike Ofcom, the funny thing about the FCC is the partisan split on the 5-member Commission. Normally things go [...]
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